Recovery and return to work after abdominal hysterectomy?

[travelnut]

I am scheduled to have an abdominal hysterectomy early September and I want to be as prepared as possible. My work have asked for an idea of how long I will be off. I see the standard time is 6 to 8 weeks. The last and only time I've had surgery before was on my knee and I my body reacted to the surgery and basically paralysed that leg from the knee down for 6 months and my Dr thought I had MS at the time (this was pre diagnosis with APS and lupus flare symptoms). If any of you had the same surgery did you find that you flared as a result of the surgery? Does the autoimmune conditions mean that I am likely to take longer to recover? I want to give my work a realistic timescale as they are getting some one in to cover me. Any insights or advice very gratefully received.

Thanks.

[Welshexile]

Hi travelnut

All I can offer is my experience, having had to have a total abdominal hysterectomy back in 2004, and my added complication of Hughes Syndrome. But my body didn't react well to the surgery either and healing was a very long process. In total I was off work for 4 months and it then took me a further 3 months to work my way back up to full duties.

[travelnut in reply to Welshexile]

Sorry to hear that Welshexile. I wonder if you were one of the unfortunate ones in the minority who reacted badly or whether there is a much higher risk that us Hughesies will need longer to get over this surgery.